Combination brake and gas pedal for automobiles



Jan. 2, 1951 A L, J. PARKER 2,536,854

COMBINATION BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL FOR AUTOIIOBlLES Filed lay 31. 1949 2 Shoots-Shoot l I r x.' /ll/lllllllllllllIll/llllll f im i INVENTOR.

L.. J. PARKER COMBINATION BRAKE 'AND GAS PEDAL FOR AUTOMOBILES Jan. 2, 1951 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 Filed lay 31, 1949 INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 2, 1951 OFFICE- COMBINATION BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL FOR AUTOMOBILES Lester J. Parker, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 31, 1949, Serial No. 96,193

The present invention relates to acombination brake and accelerator control for use in present day automobiles.

3 Claims. (Cl. 192-3) It is desirable, in the interest of safety and convenience, to have as few foot controlled pedals as possible in the operation of an automobile. This is particularly true, considering the time required for a normalv person to move his foot from the conventional accelerator to the conventional brake pedal in a brake application following a period of acceleration or a period of driving at a substantially constant speed. Such time interval, even though it may be considered to be small, is relatively long with further consideration given to the fact that serious accidents on the highways occur within differences of time amounting to fractions of a second.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to achieve the above mentioned desideratum, and particularly to provide an improved arrangement which necessitates only one foot pedal for brake Aapplication and for gas control.

Another object of the present invention is tol manner as a conventional accelerator pedaLY;

namely by pivoting the foot about the ankle to increase the gas iiow to the engine of the automobile.

A subsidiary object of the present invention is to provide an improved pedal control having I the features mentioned in the preceding'object, so that a person may readily learn and practice the operation of such combination foot control.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved combination brake and accelerator control characterized by its simplicityA and ease of installation both in existing automobiles and in the manufacture of new automobiles.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved control of the character described, characterized by the fact that adjustments may be made in the brake control, as the brakes become Worn or changes occur in the hydraulic brake system, without effecting -the operation of the accelerator control.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved combination brake and accelerator foot operated control characterized by constructional features thereof allowing the foot operated pedal to be placed in an inconspicuous place and yet allowing application of brakes with a relatively small foot pressure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a foolproof combination brake and accelerator foot operated pedal mechanism which incorporates improved means preventing operation of the accelerator control when the brakes are being applied, and vice versa.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, both as to its organization and man- .ner of operation, together with further objects and. advantages thereof, nay be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a view taken substantially on the line I- of Figure 4 through a combination brake and accelerator control embodying features of the present invention,l

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the accelerator rod, showing the hinge connection betweenelements thereof lor purposes of achieving important results,

Figure 4 is a view taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 1,

Figures 5 and 6 are views of the apparatus similar -to the views shown in Figure l but show the progressive relationship the parts assume, in that order, when and as the pedal I0 is actuated in a braking application.` In other words, in a brake application the pedal I0 is moved rst from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 5 and then to the position shown in Figure 6,

Figure 'I is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 1,

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of the modification shown in Figure 9, and

Figure 9 is a sectional view corresponding to the sectional view shown in Figure 1 of a modified construction for also achieving the purposes 3 be moved at one time, the other member II, I2, as the case may be, being prevented from movement.

Preferably, when it is desired to actuate the accelerator control rod Il, the pedal I9 is simply pivoted about the relatively xed'pivot pin I8, accomplished by pressing the ball of the foot against the upper portion oi' the pedal I8. using an ankle movement of the foot. When it is desited to apply the brakes, the lower portion IIA of the pedal I8 is ilrst pivoted counterclockwise in Figure 1 about the xed pivot pin I3, andthe foot pedal Il is shoved generally downwardly by moving the foot downwardly without pivoting it about the ankle; in other words, by simply shoving the pedal I8 downwardly as is normally conventional in the application of the brake pedal in'conventional present day automobiles.

Normally, the pedal I0, without foot pressure being applied thereto, is in condition for immediate actuation of the gas control rod II, since a rigid connection at this time exists between the pedal I and the gas control rod II. This rigid connection between the pedal I8 and control rod II may be broken to prevent operation of the control l by mst pivoting the lower end IIA of the pedal I0 about the relatively ilxed axis I3, whereupon such rigid connection is broken at I (Figures l and 3) to allow subsequent downward movement of the pedal I0. Details of this construction appear hereinafter.

The combination brake and gas control is mounted generally on an automobile in substantially the same position occupied by the conventional brake pedal with the pedal I 9 above the f sloping iloory board I8 of the automobile, and with the mechanism mounted in a well I8 below `such sloping portion of the iloor board. This well I8 is defined by spaced parallel walls I9, 20 and the forward wall 2I and the bottom wall or floor 22, all of which may be of sheet metal construction and fastened by suitable bolts to the oor board I5.

This door member 22 has, in turn, releasably mounted thereon a stationary plate 25 by means of bolts 28. This plate 25 has mounted thereon a bearing 21 for pivotally supporting the lever arm I2, there being provided for that purpose a shaft 28 on the arm I2 for cooperation with the bearing 21. .t

The upper end of the arm I 2 is bent at an angle somewhat greater than ninety degrees at 29, and is pin-connected at I8 to the pedal backing plate 30 which may be of angle iron construction, it being noted that the bend 29 is in a more elevated position than the pivot I3. 'Ihe lower end of the arm I2 is pin-connected at 32 to the lever 34 through the adjustable length arm 85, which is pin-connected to both levers I2 and 34. The lever 34. is ,pivoted at its upper end on the relatively stationary pivot pin 36, and an intermediate portion of such lever 84 is pin-connected to the reciprocable rod a normally associated with the hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly 88 for controlling the ow of hydraulic braking fluid to the wheels of the associated automobile for effecting braking thereof.

The arm.35 may be adjusted in length to compensate for wear of the brakes or changes in the condition in the associated hydraulic braking system.l This arm, 35 may take different forms and shapes, and may comprise simply, 'as shown herein, a rectangular shaped rigid bar 38 slidably mounted in'the cooperating housing 88. upon 4 4 which is pivotally mounted the pawl member 48 for engagement with the teeth on the rigid mem. ber 88, such pawl 48 being normally biased in engagement with such teeth by the coil compression spring 4I. Also, such extensible arm 88 is normally biased to the right in Figure l lby the coil tension spring 43 having one of its ends mounted on the pivot pin 82 and the other one oi' its ends attached to the' chassis (not shown) of the automobile. Thus, with the mechanism thus far described, assuming that the arm I2 pivots clockwise about the axis of the shaft 28,

'the control rod 35a is moved to the left to cause application oi.' the brakes of the associated automobile.

Also, mounted on the plate 25 is the arcuate shaped guide 45 with anti-friction rollers 45 thereon, as indicated in Figures 1 and' '7, forl providing guided anti-friction movement of the arcuate shaped arms 48,49 which are pin-connected for hinged movement at I5. In the normal position of the foot pedal I0 (in the position of the foot pedal III without the operators foot being applied thereto) the adjacent ends of the arcuate shaped arms 48, 49 are disposed within the arcuate guide 45 so as to prevent pivotal movement lof the arms 48, 48 with respect to one another.

In other words.' in such normal position the arcuate shaped arms 48, 48 are, for al1 intents and purposes, a rigid link. I'he arm 48 at its lower end is bent and apertured to allow passage therethrough cf the control rod II. 'I'he adjustable releasable stop member 58 on the rod I I prevents withdrawal of such rod II throughthe apertured portion of the lower end oi' lever 48. The other, or right hand end of rod I I in Figure 1 passes through a relatively stationary guide member 52, and has mounted thereonan adjustable releasable stop member 53 to which is attached a coil tension spring 54 for normally biasing the rod II to the right with the stop 53 engaging the relatively stationary guide 52, it being noted that the other end, orl right hand end of coil tension spring 54 is attached to a relatively stationary portion of the automobile such as the chassis (not shown).

The coil compression spring 5I, concentrically mounted around the arm 48, has one of its ends abutting against the pin 5I A ailixed to the arm 48, and the other one of its ends abutting the guide 45 to thereby bias the arms 48, 49 downwardly within the guide member 45 in the position shown in Figure 1 to form, for all intents and purposes, a rigid connection between the arms la. 49.

The arcuate shaped arm 49 is bent at 55fwith the upper end thereof externally threaded in the internally threaded sleeve member 58, which is pin-connected to the pedal member 30 so that the effective length of the arm 49 may be adjusted.

Also mounted on the removable bottom plate 25 is the stop member 60 adapted to engage the brake arm I2 to limit its movement when it is free to move under the inuence of coil tension spring 48.

It is now clear, from the apparatus described hereinabove, and with respect to Figures 5 and 6, that when the upper portion of the pedal I0 is pivoted about the pin I3 by, for example, the operator applying his foot to the pedal I0 and pivoting his foot about his ankle, the gas control rod II, attached to a suitable carburetor control of the associated automobile, is moved to effect acceleration of the automobile; this isvtrue since alf s under these circumstances the arcuatearms 48. 48 `are prevented from pivoting one with respect to the other. and a rigid connection thus exists between the pedal IB and the gas control rod Il. However, if it is desired to apply the brakes here, pressure is applied to the lower end I A ot the pedal I8 to cause the pedal l0 to rotate counterclockwise about the pivot I3, to thereby draw the arcuate shaped arm 49 out of its guide 48 to a position corresponding to Figure 5. When the arm 49 assumes this position. the heretofore rigid connection 'between arms 48 and 48 'is broken" and the arm 49 is allowed to pivot with respect to the arm 48. Thus, when the arm 49 is moved to its upward position shown in Figure assaut.

pedal pivoted at a point intermediate its ends to one end of a lever, said lever being pivotally mounted on the chassis -of an associated automobile at a point intermediate its ends with the other end of said lever attached to a control element of a brake piston and cylinder assembly, said brake pedal being pivotally attached in proximity to one of its ends to an arcuate shaped arm, said arcuate shaped, arm being hingedly connected to a second arcuate `shaped arm, and the other end of said second arcuate shaped arm being connected to the gas control of the associated 5, the pedal Ill is pushed downwardly in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the pedal, as in a conventional braking operation in present day automobiles, in which case now, since the connection between arms 48 and 49 .is broken, the 2o arm I2 is allowed topivot about the axis of the shaft 28 to pivotthe control arm 84 to move the pin-connected control shaft 35.

Thereafter, when it is desired to discontinue the braking operation, the operator lifts his foot from the pedal I8 and the parts of the device assume the relative positions shown in Figure 1, wherein they are in a sition to control the flow of gasoline to the associated automobile.

As a practical matter, while the operation of 30 the individual parts may appear tobe involved. this system may be operated very simply and quickly in practice.

In the lmodiiication shown in Figures' 8 and 9,

the guide 45 instead ofbeing rectangular as 35 shown in Figure '7 may be made circular in crosssection to guidingly receive the circularly crosssectioned pivotally connected arms 48, 49, which are hinged together by the pivot pin) 5. but which again are prevented from pivoting one with respect to the other in their normal positions, since adjacent ends thereof are both within the guide structure 45.

- While the. particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modications may be made'without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and,'therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modiflcalo 1,230,425

tions as `fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Iclaim: I l. In a combination gasand brake arrangeautomobile, the adjacent ends of 'said arcuate shaped arms being normally confined in an arcuate shaped guide member preventing hinged movement between said arcuate shaped arms, said foot operated pedal being pivotally mounted on said lever to effect withdrawal of the adjacent ends of said arms out of said arcuate shaped guide to allow-hinged movement between said arms and to allow said lever to rotate to allow actuation of the brake control.

2. In a combination brake and gas control of the character described, a single foot operated pedal arranged for rocking pivoted movement on a brake control lever,- a connection between said pedal and a gas control element of an associated automobile, said connection comprising a pair of hinged elements movable in a guide member which serves to prevent hinged movement of said elements and establishes a rigid connection bel vLasfrna J. PARKER.

REFERENCES crrED The following references are of recordin the l ment or une type described. a. single root operated u file of this patent: d

I UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Number Name Date Murray June 19,1917 1,535,867 Sears Apr. 28, 1925 1,815,270 Rector July 21, 1931 l2.118.974 Arkley Apr. 12. 1938 2.258.627

Siesennop Oct. 14, 1941 

